Architected automotive impact beam
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorsJacob M. Hundley, Nilesh D. Mankame, Alan J. Jacobsen, Eric C. Clough, Hanif Muhammad, Stuart J. Brown, Elisabeth J. Berger
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A curved sandwich impact structure for a vehicle having a micro-truss core. In one embodiment, the sandwich impact structure includes a micro-truss layer sandwiched between two facesheets, a micro-truss layer designed for energy absorption on the outside of one of the facesheets, and a fascia panel in contact with the energy absorbing micro-truss layer.
Claims24
A structural assembly comprising:
- a stiff micro-truss layer including a base sheet and a micro-truss core formed thereon;
- and
- a top sheet secured to the micro-truss core opposite to the base sheet to form a micro-truss sandwich structure.
A vehicle energy management bumper system comprising:
- a curved stiff micro-truss layer including a base sheet and a micro-truss core having polymerized struts formed thereon;
- a curved energy absorbing micro-truss layer including a base sheet and a micro-truss core having polymerized struts formed thereon, said energy absorbing micro-truss layer being less rigid than the stiff micro-truss layer and said energy absorbing layer base sheet having a different shape than the stiff layer base sheet, said energy absorbing layer base sheet being secured to the stiff micro-truss layer core opposite to the stiff layer base sheet;
- and
- a front fascia panel secured to the energy absorbing layer micro-truss core opposite to the energy absorbing layer base sheet.
A method for providing a vehicle structural assembly, said method comprising:
- fabricating a stiff micro-truss layer by irradiating an enclosure filled with liquid photomonomer resin through a mask so as to form a micro-truss structure from a plurality of interconnected photopolymer waveguides secured to a base sheet;
- fabricating an energy absorbing micro-truss layer by irradiating an enclosure filled with liquid photomonomer resin through a mask so as to form a micro-truss structure from a plurality of interconnected photopolymer waveguides secured to a base sheet, wherein the micro-truss structure for the energy absorbing micro-truss layer is less rigid than the stiff micro-truss layer;
- and
- securing the base sheet of the energy absorbing micro-truss layer to the micro-truss structure of the stiff micro-truss layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.